Costa Rica reports 228% increase in dengue in 2023 to date
In Costa Rica, health authorities report a total of 22,561 cases of dengue fever through November 12, an increase of 228 percent compared to the same period in 2022 when 6,871 total cases were reported.
This situation prompted the Ministry of Health to issue a health alert in September, in an effort to contain the spread of this disease transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito .
The Health Surveillance Directorate reports the dengue cases registered this year are concentrated in the Huetar Caribe region with 5,825 cases, followed by the Central North with 5,068 cases and the Central Pacific with 3,344 cases.
In addition, the cantons with the highest number of cases are Puntarenas with a report of 2,022 cases, Alajuela with 1,893, Sarapiquí with 1,624, Siquirres with 1,525, Pococí with 1,473 and San Carlos with 1,333 cases.
Health authorities have emphasized that, despite this increase, a decrease is expected in the coming weeks with the arrival of the dry season. However, surveillance is maintained and control actions have been intensified, such as fumigation and the elimination of mosquito breeding sites, especially in areas with the highest incidence of the disease.
Dengue is a preventable and controlled disease if all breeding sites around us are eliminated. For this reason, the Ministry of Health calls on the population to constantly clean and empty the containers in which water is stored for use. domestic, check and clean canoes and all black plastic in the yards of homes, as well as put unused tires indoors or take them to the respective collection sites. Likewise, you are urged to collaborate with our officials when they visit your homes for fumigation, presenting proper identification.
